- Most Popular
- 12+ years
- 4 days, 3 nights
A spectacular and rich experience in the Andean mountains awaits you on this four-day trek along the Inca Trail.
Established in 2005, we connect adventure seekers with trusted and experienced tour operators on the Inca Trail, Salkantay, Lares, Inca Jungle, and other amazing treks in the Cuzco region.
A spectacular and rich experience in the Andean mountains awaits you on this four-day trek along the Inca Trail.
Discover a different side of the Andes and get the most amazing views of the mountains!
Immerse yourself in the Andean jungle! This is an amazing backpacker Jungle Adventure! Get some adrenaline through this
We work with the best award-winning operators for each Inca Trail trek! You will be able to find the budget that fits your needs ranging from budget backpacker options to higher end products. The treks are designed to help you challenge yourself and experience the Andean mountain like no other.
We work with the best operators offering 100% sustainable experiences dedicated to a leave-no-trace philosophy with the best equipment and top safety standards. We are committed to offering local experiences that benefit the community, employing the top guides in the region and amazing chefs for the best food.
Yes, everyone needs a permit, and our treks already include the permit for you, so you don’t need to worry about this anymore.
There are only 500 permits available daily on the Inca Trail for trekkers, porters and guides and they sell out very quickly! Although sometimes permits are available within a few months of your travel date, it’s best to book at least 6 months in advance, especially when traveling during high season from May to September.
Once you book an Inca Trail trek with us, the permit is secured immediately. Our Cuzco team is ready and available to book and collect the permits before your trek starts.
No, individuals may not purchase permits. Only licensed tour operators have access to purchasing permits. Any company that wishes to become a licenced operator must pass a rigorous annual application and inspection required by the Peruvian government.
The first step is booking your trip with us. Then you must provide your current passport information exactly as it appears in your document (this should be the same passport with which you will be travelling). If you acquire a new passport between your booking date and travel date, you must bring a copy of the old passport in order to enter the Inca Trail Trek. As per Peruvian governmental requirements, permits are unchangeable and non-transferable meaning the dates cannot be changed and the name cannot be transferred to anyone else.
The Inca Trail starts from Cuzco, Peru. From here you will take a transfer to the start of the trek which is 1.5 hours away by car. From there, you will walk 4 days to reach the sun gate which is the entrance to the majestic site of Machu Picchu.
No, in order to the Inca Trail you will need to travel with a licensed tour operator which will include guides, porters, chefs and everything you need to go on your Inca Trail.
Yes, the Inca Trail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk through the footsteps of the Inca people through a commercial trade route that reached Machu Picchu. It’s a challenging 42-kilometer hike, but with a good attitude and commitment it’s doable for almost everyone with a good physical condition.
There is only one Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu at the moment, but when the Inca Trail permits are not available, there are several incredible alternative treks such as the Salkantay Trek, Inca Jungle Trek, Lares Trek, and the Jungle Trek to Machu Picchu that don’t follow the Inca Trail. Depending on what you are looking for, there are different options that would be a great fit for your trekking preferences. Here are the main characteristics:
Inca Trail: Follow the footsteps of the Inca people, with amazing landscapes, and arrive to Machu Picchu through the sun gate at sunrise. You will camp for 3 nights.
Salkantay Trek: Possibly the hardest of the treks, with the most amazing views of the Andean mountains, glaciers, ending in Machu Picchu. Depending on the operator you might sleep 1 night in Andean Huts, 2 nights in Eco-domes and 1 night in a Hotel. Other options offer 3 nights camping and 1 in a hotel in Aguascalientes.
Lares Trek: Amazing views of the mountains, passing through local villages to admire the local way of life, ending in Machu Picchu. You will camp for 2 nights and sleep 1 night in a hotel in Aguascalientes.
Inca Jungle Trek: Mountain Biking, Rafting, low altitude Jungle Hike, Zip-line and Machu Picchu all in one amazing 4-day trek. This is great for adrenaline junkies and for an easier trekking option. You will sleep in basic hotels along the way.
Inca Quarry Trek: One of the newest additions to the alternative treks, going off the beaten path, passing through amazing scenery and ending in Machu Picchu. You will camp for 3 nights.
The Inca Trail is 42 kilometers in total. The Inca Trail is considered to be a moderate hike, there are lots of staircases to climb, and the highest altitude you will reach on the trek is 4,200 meters. Altitude can affect the body by causing dizziness and shortness of breath. We recommend that you hike with a walking stick to reduce stress on the knees.
It depends on the trek that you choose as there are many different options. If you take the 4D Inca Trail you will hike around 6 to 9 hours per day for the first three days and about two hours on your final day arriving to Machu Picchu through the Inca Trail sun gate. If you do the 2D Inca Trail you will hike around 6 to 8 hours on day 1, and then won’t hike much on day 2. The Lares and Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu you will hike for around 6 to 8 hours per day, with around 10 hours on the second day. For the Inca Jungle, you will not hike much on day 1, then hike around 8 hours on day 2, and if you decide to do the Zip-line adventure on day 3 you will hike around 3 hours, otherwise around 6 hours. If you go on the Choquequirao Inca Trail you will be trekking around 5-8 hours per day. It’s very important that you pack comfortable hiking boots, as on average on the hikes you will be hiking are around 6 to 9 hours per day.
You will start the hike at 2,800 meters (9,188 ft). The highest point is the Dead Woman’s pass and it will reach 4,200 meters (17,785ft). The highest altitude at which you will sleep is 3,600 meters (11,820 ft) for at least one of the nights.
Each person adapts differently to the altitude, so it’s very difficult to predict how you will do with it. Most of our hikers have no problem, as long as you take the time to acclimatize properly. We recommend spending at least one full day, if not two days in Cuzco at 3,250 meters (10,660 ft) and drinking lots of water every day. A lot of Cuzco locals drink coca tea, and or chew coca leaves in order to help with the altitude and say that it works wonders.
May to September is considered to be the highest season for the Inca Trail and you often need to pre-book a permit 6-8 months in advance. The Inca Trail is closed during February for restoration. The low season coincides with the rainy season in Cuzco which starts in October and ends in March. If a permit for the Inca Trail is not available, a great option is to book an alternative trek. Many people enjoy the alternative treks as much or more than the Inca Trail.
The best months to do the Inca Trail are from May to September when the conditions are fairly dry and the weather generally sunny. However the months of June, July and August can also be very cold at night so it’s important to bring or rent a good quality 4 season sleeping bag. The temperature can drop below zero at night, and during the day it can change a lot during the day. It’s important to come well prepared for the weather, so you don’t suffer from the cold weather.
We always recommend to use many layers of quick-dry materials such as wool or synthetic materials to keep yourself dry and warm. Bring a waterproof jacket or rain poncho to keep yourself dry. Having all the different layers will help you with the Pachamama’s (mother nature’s) sudden changes in weather.
Bring or Rent in Cuzco: hiking poles, rain pants, rain poncho, trekking boots, sandals, warm socks, sweaters, thermals, hat, gloves, sun hat, sun block, sun glasses, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card (there is limited to no electricity available during the trek), waterproof bags for your camera, hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit, water bottle. Bring extra cash for snacks, water, gatorade which doubles or triples in price along the trail.
You are likely to arrive to Machu Picchu at around 6:00 am and you will have plenty of time to immerse yourself into the amazing archaeological site. You will have a two-hour guided tour of the site, and then time to explore on your own, take some unforgettable photos and relax in the site until around noon. After that time due to Machu Picchu regulations we will need to exit the site, as there are more people coming in for the afternoon, and there is a limit on the amount of people that can come in each day.
After you enjoy your time by the majestic Machu Picchu, you will travel by bus to Aguascalientes town (30 minutes) where you will relax, have some lunch, and then take a beautiful train ride (1.5 hours) to Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley). Here you will take a bus transfer back to Cuzco (1.5 hours).
Depending on the trek you purchased, the porters may or may not carry up to 5 kilograms of your personal items. If this is not included in your trek, you may book it locally at an additional cost. For this we provide you with a duffel bag to place 5 kg of your personal items and sleeping bag. Our hard-working porters will carry this duffel bag for you during the Inca Trail, so you only need to carry a small backpack for your water, camera, sunscreen and snacks. Your large backpack or suitcase can be stored safely in the luggage room at your hotel in Cuzco or in our office.
Most operators use durable three person tents to sleep two people, so it’s more spacious and comfortable. There are very few places on the trail where there are very rustic toilets, but the Inca Trail operator will set-up portable toilet tents for travelers.
You will be surprised by the delicious food that our cooks prepare for your trekking days. The menu usually includes pasta or rice, chicken, fresh fruit and veggies, eggs and oatmeal. Our operators are happy to cater for any dietary restrictions and allergies that you might have, so just let us know when you book your trip and we will make sure to make it happen.
We strongly recommend bringing a refillable aluminum water bottle, as boiled water will be provided with every meal. Bottled water can be purchased on day one of the trek, and in some parts along the trail, but we highly discourage this due to the waste it creates. You can also buy a new technology bottle that filters and cleans any water that you put it.
Yes, no problems at all. You can also rent walking sticks in Cuzco at around $10-15 USD for the entire trek. We highly recommend getting one to put less stress on your knees, and to keep your balance.
All Inca Trail porters are limited by governmental regulations to carry a maximum of 20kg on the treks. Our operators always make sure that no porter is carrying more than this. They carry all the camping equipment, food and all the necessary equipment for the camp.
The porters sleep in tents and are provided with sleeping bags and foam mattresses. In some of the hikes there are dedicated sleeping places for the porters, and we pay all the necessary fees for them to use these locations.
The porters usually hike much faster than the rest of the group and they have very different food requirements, therefore they eat at different times of the day. We usually provide larger meal portions and meals with lots of carbs so they can have more energy due to their needs.
Our local operators provide full training sessions every year for the porters before the trekking season starts in March to clear any doubts that they might have. Porters usually work on their own as third-party contractors and have a lot of prior experience working in high-altitude mountainous regions throughout the Andes. Many were born in remote Andean villages and have lived at high altitudes their entire lives.
Porters and guides are the most important part of the Inca Trail Experience. Our local partners provide them with the necessary equipment to ensure they are safe and comfortable on the hike. We provide them with proper clothing and equipment including a warm coat and rain jacket, rain poncho, a back support, sun hat, footwear and a head lamp. Our operators constantly check the equipment to make sure they are in good conditions. We also provide health insurance for all of them, and make sure to immediately respond to any medical emergencies or incidences involving porters on the Inca Trail.
Ultimately, the decision to tip your porters in up to you. In Latin America and specifically on the hikes, it is customary to give a tip at the end of the hike to thank the porters for their hard work. We find that trekkers are usually very appreciative of their porters and are happy to prepare a short ceremony at the end of the trek to thank them in person and give them a tip. We usually suggest that your trekking group gathers a collective fund to tip the team of porters between 6-8 dollars a day per person. So to plan in advance, you may wish to calculate around $24-$40 USD for tipping the porters at the end of the hike.